The Time Free Zone: A Galactic Investigator Story

By Gregory J. McKenzie

This is a fast story about something that may or may not exist outside our galaxy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: Nov 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781922355690

Book preview

Chapter 1

     The galaxy class ship that was to transport the Investigator was waiting at Galaxy Central Space Terminal. This was located on one of the moons of this overcrowded planet.  Access by shuttle from the surface of the central planet this was a relatively short trip. In Orbit around the Galaxy Research facility base were all the scientific ships. These were somewhat bigger than the military ship but much slower. Herding such a fleet of 'bulky space junk', as they were referred to by the captain of the galaxy class ship,  was going to make it a tedious journey. Military ships loved to travel at the limits of their engines potential. Scientists take a much more sedate attitude to space travel. 

The Investigator was also used to quick trips to other solar systems. This was going to be a slow trip to the nothingness of space. Examining a space drone imaging video of their destination he became certain that his superiors had gone insane. As far as he could see there was nothing there to examine. Yet his preflight brief was headed

MOST           TOP           SECRET !

The Captain of this galaxy ship was waiting in his command cubicle for the head of the scientific party to arrive at their first meeting. The Professor had been recalled from his earlier reckless dash toward the time/space coordinates of the research area. He was not happy at being overruled by galaxy research officials. 

 As the Captain caught up on his copy of the mission brief, he began to shake his head. The Investigator could guess that this wizened space warrior was perplexed. Yet the Investigator knew he would not be able to explain away the absurdity of wasting a galaxy class battle ship on such civilian nonsense.  So he said in a sympathetic tone of voice,

I know what you are thinking. When I read it I thought it was a sick joke.

The Captain looked at this much younger being with doubt in his eyes. Suspecting some galaxy central political trap he kept his blank expression. Then he read the contempt that the Investigator was directing to his own copy of this unbelievable mission brief. So he joined in with equal contempt when he said,

In all my years as captain, too many to relate I can assure you, I have never seen such a pointless mission brief. Did you scan the space drone footage? There is nothing there! A total waste of my time my crew's abilities not to mention the potential of this fine ship.

All the Investigator could add to this rant was a nodding of his head. The Captain was now in full voice as he outlined his outrage at this wasteful use of the military hardware he had at his command. He said in disgust,

My ship and my crew were there at the last border wars! We fought the real enemies of the galaxy. What is our reward for risking our lives to save our families from invasion? A baby sitting job for a bunch of star gazers. Can you tell me if that makes any sense to you because it looks like madness to me.

Again the Investigator could do little more than shake his head as he actually shared in the disbelief of this battle hardened veteran. They were both reflecting on what they could have done wrong to merit such a mission, when a new voice broke into their fuming reflections.

Perhaps I can explain to you both the real importance of this mission. Will you listen as I outline its vital significance to both the defense of our galaxy's way of life....yes even to our freedom?

Still angry, the Captain spun around to fix this intruder with a cold stare. He spoke in a heightened tone of voice,

Just who do you think you are coming into this top secret meeting? Who let you past my security? I will have your rank and binary number before the talk with you.

The new entrant did not quail before the obvious temper of the Captain. Instead he said,

"Well my rank is Head Scientist of this mission. I have an up link hologram from you calling me to attend your 'top secret mission'. That means that you let me past your own security.My......binary......number....is 10000111001000100001111000001111001110.

 If that is any help?

 Now can we get on with it ?

 I am a busy man! I was halfway to the time/space coordinates of the most amazing discovery in my lifetime when those idiots at science research recall my ship.  The fools. I don't need some military escort. Nothing can match my quantum ship!"

The arrogance of this last statement took the breath out of any retort from the Captain. The Investigator had a better sense of humor so he had to refrain from laughing out loud.  Instead he used sarcasm to get the better of this third member of their leadership group. He said in a depreciating tone of voice,

Can I just call you 10000 or would you prefer your title. I am just called the Investigator. I would have to check my own credentials to give you my binary code number. If you can make any sense of our mission, I am sure we would appreciate your input.

The Head Scientist was put back in his place at the tone of voice from this imposing Investigator.  Internally he was shocked that neither of these two top leaders had heard of him. After coming from the science team meeting where everyone was in awe of his every word, it was a real check on his ego.  So he said in a pained tone of voice,

I am considered to be the best scientist in the galaxy. Believe me when I say that I would not be wasting my time on nonsense. But your friend was right, we are travelling across the galaxy to study a zone of nothing. And I mean that literally. This zone is reported to have NOTHING in the extreme sense of that term. No light, no formed matter of any kind, no anti-matter that can be detected and, most amazingly of all, no limits of TIME itself. How is that for a mission? We will all be famous!.... That is if it is true. Of course some space drones never made it back to their science stations. That is very worrying.....but of course obvious when you think that temporal displacement is a possibility.......

Both of the other occupants in the room looked at each other in total confusion. The Professor seemed to be having a debate with himself having seemingly forgotten that they were in the room. Together the captain and the Investigator mouthed the words

He.....is.....insane! 

Chapter 2

   After such a dramatic meeting the actual trip was uneventful. The Captain and Investigator bonded together due to their shared reservations about the mission. The science ships' crews largely kept to themselves. After that first disastrous meeting there were no more sessions with the insane  leader of the science staff.

 The guarding of civilian ships obviously grated with the Captain whose veteran status made it even harder to bear. As for the Investigator, he was  still totally in the dark about his own role on this mission. Granted he did outrank the Captain, but he was a guest on his ship. Nothing about his orders made any sense.

Finally they arrived at their destination.

To say that the visual scanning of the area to be studied was disappointing would not be  overstating the case. As far as the Investigator could see they were was nothing out there to justify such a large scale operation.  Visuals from the nano drones showed an area devoid of any observable matter. Scans from the galaxy ship failed to indicate even any primitive life forms. This led to the logical conclusion that they were exploring what could only be called vacant space. Fed up, the Captain called for another 'progress' meeting.

Waiting for the Head Scientist to arrive for this briefing the Captain said in a disgusted tone of voice,

We travel half way across the galaxy to study what exactly? It looks like nothing to me. Our own scans have nothing to show from all our own extensive sweeps. What is the point of all of this Investigator?

The Investigator was nonplussed about how to respond. Finally he said in a harsh tone of voice,

I could not agree with you more Captain. This is a total waste of time. Yours and mine. I will certainly be lodging an objection when we return. Hopefully that will be soon given that we have nothing to study here.

At this point in their mutual moan fest, the Head Scientist entered the meeting room. He said in a hearty tone of voice,

Sorry for keeping you gentlemen waiting but we just had yet another amazing discovery. This place is a full of wonders.

Neither the Captain nor the Investigator had changed their first impression of the Professor. Their faces now said it all. But the Head Scientist's next words shocked them out of their contempt. He said in an excited tone of voice,

Oh yes this latest discovery just reinforces my earlier theory. My calculations had predicted just such a zone. After all they were have constructed from first principles. Following the preconditions for non existence. We are witnessing here and now the greatest discovery in astrophysics since the first test of faster than light travel. I can safely say that our findings will completely change astrophysics modern theory. I have actually never seen the like in all my many years of research. This has the potential to give the galaxy an unlimited source of power. If we can only learn how to harness what we have just discovered.

Both the Captain and the Investigator felt they had been thrown into something way over their heads. They asked the Head Scientist to slow down and keep any further  explanation simple. As the Professor tried to simplify it for the non-academic mind, they realized that they were not understanding a word that was being said to them. The Head Scientist did not notice the glazed look in their eyes, so said in an excited tone of voice, 

Some less enlightened species think that what we have here is a white hole. This would be laughable if not for striking similarities. But their astrophysics is all wrong. For example there is no such thing as infinite density. Singularity is so often misunderstood by the less intelligent mind. I can tell you of some of the complete  nonsensical statement some of my so called peers have made ..................................................................................................... so you can see now that this 'no time zone' existence must be caused by the two massive black holes of aspirator polarity ............ 

But his audience of two had tuned him out as they sought a way to hold on to some dignity. 

When the Head Scientist stopped to get a breath, the Investigator seized his chance by saying in a mock tone of understanding and comprehension,

Fascinating stuff Professor. Simply fascinating! But I would not say anymore until you publish your findings. You don't want a 'non academic mind' to inadvertently give your competing astrophysicists a clue to your discovery now do you?

This proved to be a very astute ploy on the part of the Investigator. Too many times than he carried to assimilate into a working predictive model the head Scientist had got one of his discoveries stolen by less intelligent colleagues.  Suddenly seeing 'hidden spies' everywhere, the Head Scientist did the zip move across his mouth. 

Giving the Investigator a look of pure gratitude the Captain said in an official tone of voice

Are their any military applications for this new discovery of yours?

A look of shock and revulsion played across the intelligent features of the Head Scientist's face. Suddenly he looked like a frightened adolescent. Once again the Investigator saved the meeting. In a conciliatory tone of voice he said,

Now you must know that the captain's question will be the first question that Galaxy Central will want answered after your publication of this wonderful new discovery. The Captain is just warning you that less scrupulous individuals may also think there is a military application. It is his job to safeguard the galaxy's cyber security.

Mollified, the head Scientist took a deep breath before answering in a purely icy tone of voice,

I suppose there may be some way it could be used offensively. I must admit that I had not thought about that area of application. I will give your question some serious thought.

With that the Head Scientist walked out of the meeting with a deflated look on his face.

The Captain turned to the Investigator and shrugged his shoulders. He said in a naive but honest tone of voice,

What did I say to make him so afraid. I did not know those cold blooded species even cared about military applications.

Not happy with the Captain's use of this specism slur, the Investigator found himself defending the head Scientist. He said in a sharply sarcastic tone of voice,

 Probably recalled what the military did with that other discovery he mentioned....

Seeing the total look of incomprehension on the Captain's face he continued in a less sharp tone,

Remember earlier he talked about that discovery and successful testing of faster than light travel. Well  some military scientist used that discovery to create a  light weapon that could destroy even armed space ships. His father probably had to live right through the terrible Light Wars. His species was right in the firing line if memory serves. You and I are too young to have lived in the galaxy at that terrible time.

The Captain now recalled his galaxy history lessons or at least the part about the light wars period. The Light Wars had almost wiped out whole species. This species cleansing of certain solar systems was a horrible war crime that had only been stopped by the development of galaxy class star ships.   Galaxy Central had sent brave crews out to hunt down these war criminals. With a new more powerful shield system that blocked out light weapons, these galaxy ships had won a bitter struggle.  Still that was a long time ago. Now that the galaxy space engineers had designed and built universe class star ships such weapons were no threat to any solar system. 

The Captain showed his insensitivity by saying in a dismissive tone of voice,

The Head Scientist will just have to get over those bitter memories. We have all lost loved ones in battle. It is no playground for geeks out there near the border systems.

Nodding to show he shared some of the Captain's sentiments, the Investigator closed out the meeting by saying in a warning tone of voice,

Yes, I agree we cannot live in the past. However if this discovery does result in a new type of offensive weaponry then maybe even our universe class ships may be vulnerable to destruction. Have you thought of that future horror?

Clearly from the look on his face the Captain had not. He suddenly became as thoughtful as the head Scientist had been on leaving their meeting. If universe class ships could be destroyed then the whole security of the galaxy may be at risk. Now determined to impose a total security blackout on any news about this discovery, the Captain went off to brief his cyber security team.

Chapter 3

     On arrival back at Galaxy Central two somber groups left the space port clearly not on speaking terms. If anything, the relationship between the scientific team  and the military personnel from the galaxy ship had become even more toxic. The Captain had imposed a communication shutdown for the entire return trip citing galaxy security directives. All the scientific data had been